Scott Valberg
Football
Wide receiver Scott Valberg is a large part of the reason why the football team achieved a record-breaking 8-0 regular-season Saturday with a 38-22 win over the Waterloo Warriors, but he’s come through the hard times as well as the good.
“In my career, we went from being 2-6 to being 8-0,” the fifth-year veteran said. “It’s nice to have gotten better every year.”
It’s been a career of individual improvement as well, as Valberg has come to play a more prominent role in the offence over time. In 2004, he only dressed for two games and caught three passes for a total of 64 yards. In his first four years playing for Queen’s, Valberg totaled 57 catches for 991 yards and six touchdowns. He achieved higher totals in this season alone, piling up 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 45 attempts.
Valberg said he enjoyed his background role in previous seasons behind the Gaels’ former stars, but it was a welcome change to have more opportunities to make plays this season.
“It’s a privilege to play behind guys like Rob Bagg, but this year it’s nice to get the ball a bit more,” he said.
Valberg’s season ranks up there with the best in CIS history. The 142 yards he put up on nine catches against Waterloo made him just the tenth CIS player to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Oddly enough, two of the other nine athletes on the list are Gaels: former CFL star Jock Climie put up 1,091 yards in 1988 and James Maclean recorded 1,031 yards in 2001.
Valberg’s a Kingston native who took up football in high school at Bayridge Secondary, where he played with current Queen’s running back Mike Giffin. Valberg said he had no idea when he started that he and Giffin would both wind up starring with the Gaels.
“Personally, I didn’t realize I was going to university until my last year, Grade 12.”
Valberg said he wasn’t conflicted over which school to choose once he opted for further education, though.
“Being local, it was pretty easy to decide to go to Queen’s,” he said.
Valberg said the perfect regular-season record was huge for him and his teammates.
“For a lot of guys, it accomplished what we were going for,” he said. “This year’s been a pretty big high.”
Valberg said he and his teammates aren’t satisfied yet, though, and they’re focusing on the upcoming playoffs.
“Everyone’s excited,” he said. “Everyone wants to win.”
—Andrew Bucholtz
Becky Conroy
Women’s hockey
Becky Conroy delivered an exceptional performance last weekend for the Queen’s women’s hockey team in their comeback victories over the Toronto Varsity Blues and York Lions. Conroy registered all four goals for the Gaels in their 4-3 win over the Lions on Sunday afternoon, but perhaps more importantly played in many key situations throughout both games to ensure the victories.
Head coach Harold Parsons said he’s impressed with the growth Conroy has shown as she enters her third season with the Gaels.
“We initially recruited Becky for her offensive ability and good vision on the ice,” Parsons said. “She’s now killing penalties for us, which she didn’t do in the last two years, a complement to her overall play.”
Hockey wasn’t the first sport Conroy tried, but it was the one she stuck with.
“I was pushed into figure skating,” she said with a laugh. “It didn’t really do anything for me. Everyone played road hockey and as soon as I started playing I just never stopped.”
A little sibling rivalry never hurt, either, in the Conroy household “My older brother played, that’s kind of why I played,” Conroy said.
While growing up in Pembroke Conroy played high school hockey through the National Capital Commission in the greater Ottawa region and has now emerged as a leader with the Gaels.
Conroy said she’s focused on elevating her own game going forward and bringing more success to the Queen’s team in the process.
“Individually, I just try to look at making sure I better myself from the year before,” she said. “Improving my stats, playing on the penalty kill; I really enjoy playing in different roles.” The Gaels currently sit third in the league with a record of 3-1-0, good for six points out of the eight possible. Conroy said it’s their depth that’s led to success so far.
“I think if you just look at our team as a whole, there are no holes on the team,” she said. “Everyone has a different role; it’s all really good players. All parts of our team are really strong.” While the Gaels’ season is in its infancy, Conroy said she’s confident they’ll have a strong regular season and find success in the playoffs.
“I really think we have the potential to go all the way.”
—Anand Srivastava
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